GRINDER KNIFE PLATE CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

 A device for cleaning a knife plate (1) of a meat grinder includes a body (11), central locating element (2), grip (3) and at least one working surface (4, 5) provided with matrix of projecting cleaning elements (6, 10) and apexes (7, 13) of the cleaning elements (6, 10) form a cleaning surface (8, 14) sloping in the direction from the central locating element (2) to a periphery (9) of the device for cleaning the knife plate (1).

Description

[0001] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for cleaning a grinder knife plate, in particular a grinder knife plate of a meat grinder and/or a grinder used for other food products.

[0002] A device for cleaning a grinder knife plate of a meat grinder is known from the US2226317(A). It is used to simultaneously remove the food product particles remaining in the openings of the knife plate after the grinding operation. This device is disc-shaped, made of plastic material and provided on one side with a plurality of elements of the same length and integrally formed on one flat side of its plate. The length of the elements is approximately equal to the thickness of the knife plate, thus equal to the length of the cleaned openings, and the diameter of the elements is very slightly smaller than the diameter of the openings. Additionally, a central enlarged pin is provided, which together with the central opening of the knife plate is used to determine the axial position of the device in relation to the knife plate. On the other hand, the angular positioning of these elements is determined with a pin arranged on the peripheral edge of the device, which, during cleaning of the knife plate, fits into a notch located on the peripheral edge thereof.

[0003] It is also known from DE8225151 U1 that a device for cleaning a grinder knife plate is made in the shape of a flat circular plate provided on one side with a series of elements of the same length matched to the number, diameter and arrangement of the openings of the knife plate, for simultaneous removal of residues from all knife plate openings. Axial and angular positioning of the cleaning device in relation to the knife plate is provided by means of four elongated cleaning elements arranged on the periphery of the device symmetrically about its transverse axis, three on one side and one on the opposite side. Handles, for easy handling the device when inserting it onto the knife plate, are also located on the periphery.

[0004] These solutions of cleaning devices are inconvenient and difficult to use. When cleaning a knife plate, inserting them on the knife plate, it is needed to use increased force for removing residues of the ground food products from the knife plate openings.

[0005] An object of the invention is to provide a convenient to use device for cleaning a knife plate.

[0006] This object is achieved by the technical features described in the characterizing part of the claim 1. Additional technical features and preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0007] The foregoing general description and detailed description, given hereafter, are merely exemplary and are understood as additional explanations of the claimed invention. Other advantages and features of the invention result from the following descriptions, drawings and claims.

[0008] The device for cleaning a grinder knife plate according to the invention comprises a body, a central locating element, a grip and at least one working surface, which is provided with matrix of cleaning elements. The apexes of which form a cleaning surface sloping in the direction from the central locating element to the periphery of the device for cleaning a knife plate.

[0009] According to the invention, a knife plate of a grinder is a round flat plate with parallel working surfaces, usually made of metal, with a matrix of openings parallel to its axis. The knife plate openings are of the same diameter. Depending on the application for grinding a specific product, a knife plate may have openings of different diameter, which causes their number and location is different depending on a specific plate. A knife plate also has a central opening arranged coaxially to the axis, which after having the knife plate mounted on a grinder is used to support a feed screw. Also the knife plate has a notch on its periphery that is used for having it locked during the grinding operation. During the cleaning, these elements are used respectively as a bases for inserting central locating element to the central opening and notch for inserting side locating element.

[0010] Cleaning of the knife plate consists in inserting a suitable device for cleaning a knife plate into this knife plate and pushing the residual ground food products out of the openings by means of cleaning device elements. For efficient cleaning, the arrangement of the cleaning elements, their number and approximate diameter are the same as the number of openings to be cleaned, their location and the diameter of the knife plate openings. In addition, in order to achieve effective cleaning, the length of the protruded cleaning elements shall not be smaller than the thickness of the knife plate.

[0011] Preferably, that the cleaning elements have the shape of cylindrical or conical elements and they may have chamfered pin edges, for easier inserting them into the knife plate openings, for decreasing cost of the tools preparation.

[0012] Preferably, the device is provided with two working surfaces on both sides of the body, each of which has cleaning elements, the size, number and positioning of which corresponds to the type of knife plate to be cleaned for using one cleaning device for two different knife plate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the working surface of the device is a plane. Preferably, the length of the central locating element is equal to or greater than the thickness of the knife plate cleaned and it extends above the cleaning elements, for easier coaxial locating it on the knife plate.

[0014] In another embodiment, the working surface is a conical surface coaxial with the central locating element based.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the length of the cleaning elements of at least one of the working surfaces decreases with the increase of the distance in the direction from the central locating element to the periphery of the cleaning device. Preferably, the length of the cleaning elements changes proportionally to their distance from the axis of the central locating element.

[0016] In another possible embodiment, the cleaning elements of at least one working surface are of the same length and at least equal to the thickness of knife plate, whereby the working surface is a conical surface and the device is made of flexible material. Because of the flexibility of the material, it is possible during the cleaning, achieve the contact of whole working surface with the knife plate.

[0017] The cleaning device and its different elements may be made of hard or flexible material. Preferably, the device is made of plastic, for particular using injection moulding techniques.

[0018] Preferably, the device has a side locating element on its periphery and handles in the form of recesses for fingers to facilitate the use of this device, for easier operate with it.

[0019] The present invention solves the problem of providing easy-to-use device for cleaning a knife plate. Owing to the design of the device, the cleaning operation involves the use of less effort compared to existing solutions. The process of grinding a food product with a grinder consists in cutting and pushing the product through a knife plate. The food product is cut by a knife slicing against the knife plate. Continuous feeding of the product into the cutting and pushing-through zone is provided by a grinder feed screw. After completion of the grinding process, the last portion of the food product remains in the knife plate openings, and therefore it may deteriorate rapidly. The knife plate has a plurality of openings which makes that cleaning it by removing the product from each opening separately, is an arduous and time-consuming operation. With shaping the sloped surface of a cleaning device, when cleaning the knife plate, its openings are first penetrated by these cleaning elements that are positioned closest to the central locating element. During further pushing the device in, subsequent cleaning elements gradually penetrate into the plate openings. As a result, it is easier to correctly position the device in relation to the knife plate, because only part of the cleaning elements requires proper guiding. Thanks also that cleaning takes place by gradual penetration of consecutive elements into the knife plate openings, such cleaning requires the user to use less effort.

[0020] The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and corresponding advantages will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments and in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] In the drawings:

Fig. 1

shows a view of the first working surface.

Fig. 2

shows a cross section A-A of the device.

Fig. 3

shows a view of the second working surface.

Fig. 4

shows a side view of the device.

[0023] The device for cleaning the knife plate 1 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 - Fig. 4 has a body 11 in the shape of a round plate provided with mutually parallel and flat, a working surface 4 and working surface 5 on both sides of the body. The working surface 4 is provided with a cleaning elements 6 made in the shape similar to cylindrical elements perpendicular to this surface. The diameter of the cleaning elements, their number, location and length are matched to the knife plate openings of a diameter of 4 mm, whereby the length of the shortest cleaning elements 6, is approximately equal to the knife plate thickness of the knife plate. The ends 7 of the cleaning elements 6 create a cleaning surface 8, sloping in the direction from the central locating element 2, placed in the axis of the body 11, to its periphery 9. The central locating element 2 has the shape similar to a cylindrical tube with a length approximately equal to the length of the longest cleaning elements 6, the length of which decreases proportionally with the increase of the distance from the central locating element 2 towards the periphery 9 of the device for cleaning the knife plate 1. On the other hand, the working surface 5 is provided with a cleaning elements 10 made in the shape similar to cylindrical elements perpendicular to this surface. The diameter of the elements, their number, location and length are matched to the knife plate openings of a diameter of 2.7 mm, whereby the length of the shortest cleaning elements 10, is approximately equal to the knife plate thickness. The ends 13 of the cleaning elements 10 create a cleaning surface 14, sloping in the direction from the central locating element 2, placed in the axis of the body 11, to its periphery 9. The central locating element 2 has the shape similar to a cylindrical tube with a length approximately equal to the length of the longest cleaning elements 10, the length of which decreases proportionally with the increase of the distance from the central locating element 2 towards the periphery of the device 9 for cleaning the knife plate 1. The side surface of the body 11 is provided with six symmetrically arranged recesses 3 constituting a finger grip. The body 11 is provided with a side locating element 12 on the periphery 9, which mates with a notch of the knife plate during the cleaning. Its length is approximately equal to the length of the central locating element 2. At the initial stage of inserting the cleaning device 1 into the knife plate to remove residues of the ground food products from the openings, it is made easier by both the central locating element 2 and side locating element 12. At the first stage of cleaning, i.e. placing the cleaning device 1 onto the knife plate, the position of: the central locating element 2 with respect to the central opening of the knife plate, the side locating element 12 with respect to the notch on the periphery of the knife plate, and depending on the type of a cleaned knife plate, several cleaning elements 6 or 10 with respect to the plate openings. When the cleaning operation is continued, consecutive cleaning elements 6 or 10 penetrate the knife plate openings. The end of the cleaning operation occurs when the working surface 4 or 5 rest on the cleaned knife plate.

[0024] Although the invention, shown in the above exemplary embodiment, was described with reference to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that there are many other possible modifications and variations which may be designed without going beyond the scope of protection of the present invention.

List of reference signs:

[0025] 

1 -

cleaning device

2 -

central locating element

3 -

grip

4 -

working surface

5 -

working surface

6 -

cleaning elements

7 -

apexes

8 -

cleaning surface

9 -

periphery

10 -

cleaning elements

11 -

body

12 -

side locating element

13 -

apexes

14 -

cleaning surface

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a knife plate (1) of a meat grinder includes a body (11), a central locating element (2), a grip (3) and at least one working surface (4, 5) provided with a matrix of projecting cleaning elements (6, 10), characterized in that apexes (7) of the cleaning elements (6, 10) form a cleaning surface (8, 14) sloping in the direction of from the central locating element (2) to a periphery (9) of the device for cleaning the knife plate (1).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning elements (6, 10) have a cylindrical or conical shape pins.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with two working surfaces (4, 5), on both sides of the body (11), with cleaning elements respectively (6, 10), wherein the cleaning elements (6, 10) differ from another in the number, location and size.

4. A device according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that at least one working surface (4, 5) is a flat surface.

5. A device according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that at least one working surface (4, 5) is a conical surface coaxial with the central locating element (2).

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning elements (6, 10) have chamfered ends.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the cleaning elements (6, 10) of at least one of the working surfaces (4, 5) decreases with the increase of the distance in the direction from the central locating element (2) to the periphery (9) of the device for cleaning a knife plate (1).

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the length of the cleaning elements (6, 10) changes proportionally to their distance from the axis of the central locating element (2).

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of flexible or hard material.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the size of the cleaning elements (6, 10), their number and location on the working surface (4, 5) are matched to the size and location of the openings of the grinder knife plate to be cleaned.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (11) is provided with a side locating element (12) on the periphery (9).

Drawing